Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/787665
14 nMarch 2017n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS is different than anything we'd seen before. This made-in-the-U.S. product created quite a bit of buzz, and a num- ber of dealers expressed interested in acquiring at least one to experiment with once the product is available in the summer of 2017. Of course, having just acquired a 2017 Road King, I'd love to try this product, however, the 2017 (i.e., electronic throttle) version won't be available until sometime after the release of this fi rst product. Speaking of the 2017 Harley- Davidson models, some exhibitors present wasted no time in gearing up for the Milwaukee-Eight engine that powers the entire Touring line. For instance, JIMS, another industry mainstay that's celebrating 50 years in business this year, displayed an array of specialized tools crafted for the 2017s. Aftermarket distributors such as HardDrive, Drag Specialties, and Mid- USA had a number of parts available for the new models as well. Several prominent players in the industry did not display at the Expo this year, including companies com- prising the Motorcycle Aftermarket Group, such as Kuryakyn, Mustang, Performance Machine, Progressive Suspension, Roland Sands Design, Vance & Hines, and Xtreme Machine. S&S Cycle and Biker's Choice were noticeably absent, as well. However, some fi rst-time exhibitors had eye- catching displays, such as the afore- mentioned CenterFlo and Big Bike Parts, a company making parts and accessories that's been in business for 35 years, and, in fact, during the week- end, won a V-Twin Industry Leader award for one of its products. Other companies like Heartland USA, K&N Engineering, and Yelvington Trikes made a reappearance after one or more years' absence. Several motorcycle manufac- turers were on hand, such as Wild West Motor Company of Buckner, Kentucky, that exhibited with the more recently-formed Havoc Motorcycles out of Prince Edward Island. The part- nership, which began just last year, has enabled these companies to co-design and co-market several motorcycle models, and allowed them to persevere even after the bottom dropped out of the production custom market. And Kory Souza Originals had on display some custom motorcycles and a collec- tion of parts with a distinctive, retro- modern fl air. TC Bros Choppers, established in 2006 by Ohio brothers Tyler and Tim Cobb, returned to the Expo with a wide range of parts to support the home builder. We saw other interesting customization options from various exhibitors as well, such as the head plates and back plates made by Old Jim Customs from Evansville, Indiana. Leathers and other apparel manufac- turers displayed their 2017 styles, with fi rst-time exhibitor Wrangler show- casing their new line of Premium Performance Cool Vantage jeans designed especially for motorcy- clists. The exhibit fl oor wasn't the only action at the Expo; a succession of seminars was also conducted on Saturday. Technical sessions sched- uled included seminars on Power Vision and Power Vision CX by V-Twin Expo Continued from page 12 See "V-Twin Expo," page 34, column 4 (L.–r.) Paul Platt and Denise Hughes display JIMS' new products for the Milwaukee-Eight engine Wild West Motorcycle Company has partnered with Havoc Motorcycles to manufacture and sell their combined line of production customs Aftermarket distributor HardDrive displayed an extensive collection of apparel as well as hard parts (L.–r.) Jody Perewitz and her bike that helped enable her to break Land Speed Racing records, along with the author